Food labelling and packaging

Food labelling legislation ensures consumers are not misled about the nature of food products when they are sold to them. It also creates a level playing field for food producers, so they have clear requirements on the information that appears on the label and how this is presented. View information about the Food Information Regulations.

Responsibility for food labelling legislation and policy is split across:

• Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) - responsible for food labelling legislation that is principally non-safety and for the co-ordination of labelling policy across Government.
• Food Standards Agency (FSA) - responsible for legislation on labelling and standards that are principally safety based.
• Department of Health (DH) - responsible for nutrition labelling policy.

Please use the following links to business companion guides for more information on:

• alcoholic beverages, spirits and food
• colours in food
• composition of meat products
• date and lot marking of prepacked food
• disposal of surplus food
• egg producers selling directly to consumers
• food allergens and intolerance
• food contact materials
• food hygiene for farmers and growers
• food labelled in a foreign language
• food labelling for bakers
• food labelling for butchers
• food labelling for caterers
• food labelling for fishmongers
• food labelling for greengrocers
• food sampling by authorised officers
• genetically modified foods
• herbal medicine and health food shops
• imported feed and food controls
• jam and similar products
• labelling and describing organic food
• labelling of beef
• labelling of honey
• labelling of non-prepacked foods
• labelling of poultry and other meats
• labelling of prepacked foods: general
• labelling of prepacked foods: ingredients list
• labelling of prepacked foods: nutrition declaration
• labelling of prepacked foods: product name
• labelling of prepacked foods: QUID
• labelling of prepacked-for-direct-sale foods
• labelling of sweets
• novel foods (including CBD and hemp)
• nutrition and health claims
• packaged goods: average quantity
• refill shops
• retail sale and labelling of eggs
• sale of alcohol in licensed premises
• sandwich labelling
• single-use carrier bags
• small bakers and average weight
• supplying surplus food and co-products as feed
• weights and measures for butchers
• weights and measures for fishmongers
• weights and measures for greengrocers.

Please use the following links to find out more information on:

• view information about allergens
• view information about catering businesses
• view information about colours in food
• view information about durability - use by/best before dates
• view information about the Food Information Regulation
• view guidance for the use of terms
• view information about labelling claims
• view information about Quantitative Ingredient Declarations (QUIDs).

Last updated: 21/08/2023 12:42